Bottom line: Overuse of nail polish and fungal infections are the two most common causes of yellow toenails. However, it is possible for yellow toenails to be a sign of a more serious condition. If you suspect that nail polish is not the cause of your yellowing toenails, you should see a podiatrist near you at your next convenience.

What Causes Yellow Toenails?

Nails both on your hands and feet are ordinarily translucent with the pinkish skin underneath visible. However, many people find that their toenails have slowly started to turn yellow and even morph in shape or thickness.

So, what causes yellowing toenails?

Over time, nails may naturally yellow with age. Your nails can also grow thicker and change in shape naturally with no underlying disease or infection. As you grow older, the natural changing of your toenails is not a cause for concern.

However, if you suspect that your nails have not turned yellow because of aging or nail polish, there may be one of a number underlying causes that merit varying levels of concern.

Nail Polish

The overuse of nail polish on the toenails can cause them to become yellow or otherwise discolored. This is because the nail polish can leave a slight stain on your nails.

While this reason for yellowing is no cause for concern, it can be undesirable or unsightly. Thankfully, the stain on the nail is harmless and temporary. 

Fungal Infection — Onychomycosis

If your feet come into contact with an infectious fungus, this can lead to a common fungal nail infection called onychomycosis.

Onychomycosis causes yellowing of the toenails as well as pain. The infection can eventually become painful enough to make it painful for an infected person to walk normally, especially while wearing footwear.

Fungal infections such as onychomycosis are the most common cause of yellow toenails that is caused by an underlying condition.

Podiatrists treat nail fungus with a prescription antifungal medication that can typically effectively cure toe fungus and get rid of yellow toenails. While some people resort to home treatments such as tea tree oil — which shows some promise concerning fighting fungal infections — more studies still need to be conducted.

Yellow Nail Syndrome

Yellow nail syndrome is a rare condition that affects both the toenails and fingernails — causing them to turn yellow. The affected nails may also be weak and damage easily.

While this syndrome is rare, it has other more severe symptoms that affect the rest of the body. It may also cause respiratory problems and swelling of the limbs. The cause of this condition is still unknown. If you suspect that you are developing this condition, you can speak to your doctor or a podiatric physician in Fresno that you trust.

Other Underlying Conditions

Yellow toenails can be caused by other underlying medical conditions. In these cases, yellowing toenails are more of a side effect to a potentially severe disease.

Here are some examples of other medical conditions that can cause yellow toenails:

• Tuberculosis
• Diabetes
• Jaundice
• Psoriasis
• Thyroid conditions
• Sinusitis

All of these diseases and conditions have other more serious symptoms besides just yellowing toenails.

Should You See A Doctor For Yellow Toenails?

If you excessively use nail polish on your toenails, try to give it a break for a couple of weeks. If your natural toe color doesn’t start to come back by then, you may want to consider seeing a foot doctor in Fresno that can help you to diagnose and treat your yellow toenails. 

Your foot health is important to us, so if your nails need treatment or if you experience any foot pain, please come see us at Canyon Oaks Podiatry in Fresno right away. We can help you get rid of yellow toenails as fast as possible!